* * * * *
Enjoy present pleasures in such a way as not to injure future ones.
Our Gaelic Tongue.
It is fading, ah, 'tis fading like the leaves upon the trees!
It is dying, sadly dying, like echoes 'mong the trees!
When the last breath of Autumn sighing on the breeze.
The places now that know it, it soon shall know no more;
It has vanished, it has vanished, like some loved one gone before.
No more is it spoken as it was in the days of yore.
It is sinking, slowly sinking, into its silent grave at last,
To live but in the memory as a relic of the past;
Our olden time is sinking by time and wrong harassed.
And the land that gave it birth it will leave forevermore;
No more the hills re-echo to its music as of yore,
Amid the ancient ruins pining, an exile on its native shore.
It was spoken ere the Grecian or the Persian felt the chain,
Ere Christianity's light arose to educate and tame
The fierceness of the pagan, and free the world again.
Its youth beheld the Semite on Irish coasts a guest,
Whose manhood saw the empire of the Caesars sink to rest
In its old age, as a patriarch sinks silently to rest.
In royal hall and peasant home its accents oft had rung;
Oft the glories of his native land the enraptured minstrel sung,
To king and nobles gathered round, in his wild, sweet, native tongue.
Ah, sacred tongue, that oft has borne the message from above!
Ah, pleasing tongue, whose murmurs soft, like the cooing of the dove,
To patriots united it bore words of sweetest love.
It was the tongue the apostle spoke in the days of long ago;
In it the priest advised his flock in the penal days of woe;
Its wild huzza at Fontenoy dismayed and beat the foe.
Our Keltic tongue is dying and we stand coldly by,
Without a pang within the heart, or a tear fall from the eye,
Without a care to save it, or e'en a mournful sigh,
To see it thus receding as the sunlight on the sea.
Oh, rescue it 'ere 'tis too late; oh, raise your might to free
The language of our fathers, from dark oblivion's sea.
Shall it no more be spoken on Eire's fertile plain?
Shall not her sons aspire no more to rend the iron chain,
And light the fires of freedom that smouldered in its train?
Oh, mute, forsaken tongue, must a captive's fate be thine,
Crushed by a despot's sceptre, but to be the sign
Of a ruined country, a desecrated shrine.
Phenix of the fire and storm, shall it arising in its strength,
Spurning the galling, servile yoke, gloriously be at length,
Immortal and unconquerable, the language of Juvent.
Worcester, Mass. J. SULLIVAN.
A Chapter of Irish History in Boston.
The _Boston Herald_ gives us a fair history of the ancient and honorable
Charitable Irish Society, which we cheerfully reproduce:--Within a few
weeks, probably at the annual meeting in March, action will be taken by
the members of the Charitable Irish Society looking to the proper
observance of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of that
organization, which is one of the oldest in the country. The history of
the Society is a most interesting one, so much so that when Dr. Samuel
A. Green was mayor of the city, he requested that copies of the printed
records be deposited in the library at the Harvard University, with the
Massachusetts Historic Genealogical and Boston Historical Society, and
in the principal public libraries of the State. The motive underlying
the formation of the Society was very explicitly set forth when the
original members assembled and prepared the preamble to the rules and
orders, which declared that "Several Gentlemen, Merchants and others, of
the Irish Nation, residing in Boston and in New England, from an
Affectionate and Compassionate concern for their countrymen in these
Parts, who may be reduced by Sickness, Shipwreck, Old Age and other
Infirmities and Unforeseen Accidents, Have thought fit to form
themselves into a Charitable Society for the relief of such of their
poor and indigent Countrymen, without any Design of not contributing
toward the provision of the town poor in general as usual. And, the
Society being now in its Minority, it is to be hoped and expected that
all Gentlemen, Merchants, and others of the Irish Nation or Extraction
residing in or trading to these Parts, who are lovers of Charity and
their Countrymen, will readily come in and give their Assistance to so
laudable an undertaking." A remarkable provision of the by-laws, as
originally drawn, was the restriction that only Protestants should be
admitted to membership; but there are good grounds for believing that
Roman Catholics were admitted as early as 1742, and it is known that
prominent persons of that faith were members in 1770. The preserved
records do not show when Catholics were first admitted to membership;
but when the constitution was revised in 1804, the restricted clause was
repealed. The by-laws at first were few in number and very
Suggestive of the Times.
The quarterly dues were two shillings, with "2 Shillings additional for
the Expenses of the House. The dues were to be paid into the treasurer's
hands when the members were called by their respective names, and all
persons on the calling of the List to keep their Seats to prevent
disturbance. And, further, that all members residing in Boston and not
attending at said quarterly meetings, but sending their quarterize,
shall also send 1 shilling for the good of the stock." "Expenses of the
house" suggests that, while the proceedings at meetings were in
progress, the members enjoyed "potheen," or something as exhilarating,
for another by-law provided that "no Person call for or order any drink
into the room where said Society is, except the President, who, or some
Person appointed by him, is to keep an acct. of the Liquor, and to take
care that the same do not exceed two Shillings for each member present."
Decorum and order were enforced at the meetings under a by-law which
provided that "if any Member offer any Indignity to another, or shall
Swear or Curse in said Society, such Member so offending shall pay as a
Fine to the Fund of said Society the Sum of Ten Shillings, and such
Member refusing to pay such Fine after being adjudged culpable by a
Majority of the Members present, such Person shall be excluded from said
Society." Four years after the founding of this Society, interest in the
meetings began to flag, and it was voted that the fine for
non-attendance should be five shillings, unless the member absenting
himself gave a reasonable excuse therefor. At one time, six o'clock in
the evening, was the hour set for assembling. There were some members
who worked at their trades well up to that time of day, and could not
get to their homes without danger of being fined in meeting for absence,
and, consequently, they appeared in their working clothes. This
necessitated a new by-law in 1744, providing that "All Members who
appear at the Annual and Quarterly Meeting to be Decent and Clean,
without Capps or Aprons." Notifications of meetings were called
"warnings," and members were warned in whatever way the secretary
desired. In 1768 it was thought that two shillings' worth of beer and
tobacco was rather too much for any one man to drink and smoke at a
meeting, and it was voted that "there shant be above 1 s. 4 d. a man
spent at a meeting before the Business of the evening be over and the
reckning called & settled; and that a clarke be chosen Each Evening to
settle the reckning," etc. The Society had no regular place of assembly,
but met around wherever it could. From the 21st of February, 1775, till
the 26th of October, 1784, the Society did not meet, owing to many of
the members being in the Continental Army,
Serving under Gen. Washington.
On the evening of the reassembling of the Society after the War of the
Revolution, the President delivered an address in which he said:
"Gentlemen, Members of the Charitable Irish Society: I congratulate you
on this joyful occasion, that we are assembled again after ten years'
absence occasioned by a dreadful and ruinous war of eight years; also
that we have conquered one of the greatest and most potent nations on
the globe so far as to have peace and independency. May our friends,
countrymen in Ireland, behave like the brave Americans, till they
recover their liberties." It has long been a custom to invite to the
annual dinner of the Society, representatives of the Catholic and
Protestant clergy, and as far back as 1797 the committee having the
entertainment in charge was "authorized to admit such gentlemen as may
appear proper subjects for the celebration, they paying their own club."
In 1798 the members were not "warned" for the August meeting because the
contagion raged, and the members were principally out of Boston. In
October of the same year, they were not warned, "Because the Contagion
was not entirely eradicated and the Members not generally Returned." In
June, 1799, the secretary was a little nettled because he had no
company at the meeting, and he made as a record: "President,
Vice-President and all the members absent except the secretary.
Therefore, all business is suspended until the next meeting." For a year
or more afterward, the meetings were not well attended. In April, 1808,
an election of officers and other business was being disposed of, when
the proceedings terminated very abruptly, and the record gives the
reason as follows: "Fire is cried and bells ringing; the Society
disperse." By 1810, the material in the organization began to grow
again, and the meetings were held at the Old Exchange coffee house.
Twenty years later. Gallagher's Howard Street House was the popular
place of rendezvous, and it was here that a vote was passed providing
standards and banners for the Society. One of the most memorable events
recorded, took place on the 22d of June, 1833, when "thirteen marshals
conducted the Society to the lodgings of the President of the United
States, at the Tremont House, to pay their respects." President James
Boyd of the Society delivered an address of welcome, and President
Andrew Jackson replied as follows: "I feel much gratified, sir, at this
testimony of respect shown me by the Charitable Irish Society of this
city. It is with great pleasure that I see so many of the countrymen of
my father assembled on this occasion. I have always been proud of my
ancestry, and of being descended from that noble race, and rejoice that
I am so nearly allied to a country which has so much to recommend it to
the good wishes of the world. Would to God, sir, that Irishmen on the
other side of the great water, enjoyed the comforts, happiness,
contentment and liberty that we enjoy here. I am well aware, sir, that
Irishmen have never been backward in giving their support to
The Cause of Liberty.
"They have fought, sir, for this country valiantly, and, I have no
doubt, would fight again were it necessary; but I hope it will be long
before the institutions of our country need support of that kind. Accept
my best wishes for the happiness of you all." The members of the Society
were about to withdraw when President Jackson took Mr. Boyd by the hand
and said: "I am somewhat fatigued, sir, as you may notice; but I cannot
allow you to part with me until I again shake hands with you, which I do
for yourself and the whole Society. I assure you, sir, there are few
circumstances that have given me more heart-felt satisfaction than this
visit. I shall remember it with pleasure, and I hope you, sir, and all
your Society will long enjoy health and happiness." The next event of
interest was the appearance of the Society in the procession on the
occasion of services commemorative of Gen. Lafayette, September 6, 1834,
"With a standard bearer and ten marshals, who decorated themselves with
the medals of the Society, and a special badge provided for the occasion
in honor of Gen. Lafayette, and bearing his likeness." The centennial
celebration was another red letter event. J. Boyd, the President,
delivered an oration at Masonic Hall. Governor Edward Everett, Mayor
Samuel Atkins Eliot, and other distinguished gentlemen being present as
invited guests, and these gentlemen also attended the banquet in the
evening and delivered addresses. In 1841 the Society began to meet at
the Stackpole House, which stood on the south-west corner of Milk and
Devonshire Streets, where the Post-office building now stands. The
Parker House has been the place of meeting for about thirty years,
beginning in 1856. Efforts have frequently been made to detach the
Society from Parker's; but the memories of good times and old faces has
so entwined the Society to that "tavern," that it has been impossible
thus far to effect a separation. In addition to the officers usually
elected in societies, namely, president, vice-president, secretaries,
treasurer and directors, the Charitable Irish Society adheres to the
old-time custom of electing a "keeper of the silver key," who is also
chairman of the board of directors. The silver key is not a myth, as
many of the new members of the organization, as well as other persons,
have supposed. It is made of coin silver, after the style of the
old-fashioned iron keys used to lock the main front doors of places of
business and family mansions, some of which are yet to be seen in houses
fifty or more years old. It is about seven or eight inches long, and
weighs between a quarter and half a pound. This key is preserved in a
velvet-lined case, and is one of
The Treasures of the Society.
Its utility is described in the thirteenth section of the original rules
and orders, as follows: "The key keepers are to attend gentlemen and
others, natives of Ireland, or of Irish extraction, residing in these
parts, or transients, to acquaint them with the charitable design and
nature of this Society, and invite them to contribute by the formality
of delivering them a silver key, with the arms of Ireland thereon; and
if any person do refuse the same, they are to return their names at some
subsequent quarterly meeting." The records do not show that at any time
in the history of the Society has the key keeper had occasion to report
the name of anybody for refusing to contribute to charity. There are
also other relics and devices, all of which are in the possession of the
treasurer, who gives bonds for the safe-keeping of the same. The device,
or coat-of-arms, of the Society, represents an eagle with outstretched
wings, holding in one claw a liberty pole, surmounted by the cap of
liberty, and in the other a "sprig of shamrock." Pendant from the
eagle's neck is a shield, with an Irish harp and a shamrock in the
centre, around which is the legend: "Charitable Irish Society." Beneath
the device is the Society's motto: "Fostered under thy wings, we will
die in thy defence," and above are the dates of the founding (1737) and
incorporation (1809) of the Society. The banner of the organization is
now exhibited on but one day of the year, March 17, when it is given a
place as near the head of the banquet table as possible. By a rule of
the Society, the charity was formerly limited to forty shillings for any
one person at any one time, and there is no doubt that a great deal of
good was done. The growth of public and private charitable institutions
and associations had the effect, twenty or twenty-five years ago, of
leaving the Society with little or nothing to do, as its members were
nearly all associated with other charities, which covered the ground
more fully and promptly. Not for many years, however, has a record of
dispensed charity been kept. All cases are referred to the board of
directors, and upon investigation, if found worthy, the keeper of the
silver key and the treasurer have been instructed to aid the person
asking assistance. The impression has gone abroad, so quietly and
unostentatiously has the work been done, that the Society gives nothing
in charity. An incident touching this fact is related by one of the
officers. A respectable and intelligent mechanic, a brass finisher,
applied for relief. He had a wife and four children in Dublin. He was
out of employment there and came to America to get work. He had heard
that
His Family Were Suffering.
He did not ask to be sent to them because he had nothing to give them.
He could get employment in New York, and soon would earn enough to
bridge over their necessities. He had called at a newspaper office in
Boston to ascertain where he could find a charitable Irish society to
help him, and was informed that "there was such a society in existence,
but that it was charitable only in name." The man found his way to the
keeper of the silver key eventually, and his immediate wants were
supplied, and he was given transportation to New York. Before the train
rolled out of the depot, he informed the member of the Society, who was
seeing him off, that he had paid another visit to the newspaper office,
and informed the people there that they had been misinformed; that "The
Charitable Irish Society was charitable not only in name, but in deed,
and in a direction, too, not covered by other charities of a private
nature." He felt it a duty incumbent on him to correct the
misapprehension, and, having done so, he bade them good day. This case
is only one of many that might be cited. Among the presidents of the
Society were some of the best known descendants of Irishmen in Boston.
The presidents for the last fifty years are as follows:
1835--John O. Park.
1836--James Boyd.
1837--James Boyd.
1838--Daniel O'Callaghan.
1839--Daniel O'Callaghan.
1840--Wm. P. McKay.
1841--Wm. P. McKay.
1842--John C. Tucker.
1843--John C. Tucker.
1844--Terence McHugh.
1845--Terence McHugh.
1846--Terence McHugh.
1847--Patrick Sharkey.
1848--John Kelly.
1849--John Kelly.
1850--John Kelly.
1851--Patrick Donahoe.
1852--James Egan.
1853--Dennis W. O'Brien.
1854--Patrick Donahoe.
1855--Thomas Mooney.
1856--John C. Crowley.
1857--John C. Crowley.
1858--John C. Crowley.
1859--Patrick Phillips.
1860--Hugh O'Brien.
1861--Hugh O'Brien.
1862--Cornelius Doherty.
1863--James H. Tallon.
1864--Patrick Harkins.
1865--Michael Doherty.
1866--Charles F. Donnelly.
1867--Charles F. Donnelly.
1868--John M. Maguire.
1869--John M. Maguire.
1870--John Magrath.
1871--John Magrath.
1872--Thomas Dolan.
1873--Thomas J. Gargan.
1874--Thomas J. Gargan.
1875--Bernard Corr.
1876--Patrick A. Collins.
1877--Patrick A. Collins.
1878--Joseph D. Fallon.
1879--Edward Ryan.
1880--Patrick F. Griffin.
1881--Patrick F. Griffin.
1882--Thomas Riley.
1883--W. W. Doherty.
1884--Timothy Dacey.
1885--Dennis H. Morrissey.
For several years past the subject of erecting a suitable building in
which the Society should have a meeting place of its own, with rooms for
reading and social purposes for young men of the present and coming
generations, and also small halls for other Society meetings, has been
under consideration. The project seemed visionary till this year, when a
committee was appointed to raise a fund for the purpose. This committee
has given the subject most careful consideration, and intends by means
of a series of entertainments this winter, to establish a foundation on
which to build a fund for the erection of the structure proposed. When
the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary is about to be observed, it is
intended to invite President Cleveland to be the Society's guest, and
the occasion will, without doubt, be one of great interest.
Interest:--Savings Banks.
The _Catholic Review_: Interest to be at all justifiable ought to
consider a number of elements, which in the case of most of our Catholic
churches in great cities like New York, Boston, Brooklyn or
Philadelphia, are largely in favor of the church corporations. _Lucrum
cessans_ will justify interest; but just now where else can a gain of
four-and-half per cent. be combined with absolute safety. _Damnum
emergens_ justifies interest; but in the present condition of affairs,
with bank presidents looking for investments at two per cent., and
telling depositors that the mere safe keeping of their deposits is
interest enough, where does the loss of profit arise? "Danger of the
investment" justifies interest; but is it not ridiculous to say that any
bank imperils money lent to a Catholic church in New York or Brooklyn on
a first mortgage? The fact is, such an investment is only equalled in
security by a United States bond; it may not be as easily negotiable,
but it is just as safe. It ought to cost very little more.
Priests to whom the second of January and first of July are sad days,
and who for weeks and even months previous are persecuted by the
necessity of begging from and irritating their congregations by painful
appeals for money to pay these dreadful interests, have asked the
_Catholic Review_ again and again to draw popular attention to the high
rate that is charged for such loans. We do so. But having done our duty
in this respect, we think we ought to add that it belongs to themselves
to deal effectively with the whole question, the very outside limits of
which we can only touch upon. Six per cent., that some of them pay,
would pay for many a Catholic teacher in a parochial school. How are
they to secure a reduction? We think a business-like and amicable
discussion of the whole question would convince the banks that property
such as a church is entitled to consideration not accorded to private or
business property. We do not now refer to motives of charity or
religion, but of pure business. No doubt some bankers will say, at
first, that "the thing cannot be done." Well, the example of the
Trustees of St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York, is a good one. When their
demand for a just reduction was, as we think, foolishly, refused, they
had no difficulty in transferring their mortgage. If half a dozen strong
churches took up the question, they would, we predict, bring all
opponents to time. It is worth talking over. Still more, it is worth
acting upon. Many a church that is now paying six per cent. could employ
six additional teachers if it had to pay only three per cent. interest.